From the Desk of Pete .....

Thur.-Fri.-Sat. Nov. 5-7, 4th Annual Colorado Environmental Film Festival at the American Mountaineering Center, 710 10th St., Golden. "The Colorado Environmental Film Festival (CEFF) is an exciting, inspiring, and energizing event that includes world-class environmental films, an engaging exhibition hall with representatives from local and national organizations and companies, topical forums and discussions, and a children's environmental film program. True to the spirit of Colorado, this event is supported and attended by people who value the natural world and share a passion for the power and beauty of film." Presented by the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education; for more details see http://www.ceff.net

Fri., Nov. 6, Dr. John Foster of the Museum of Western Colorado in Grand Junction will take "Rock Out for the Ridge" guests on a "virtual hike" through the Jurassic Morrison from the Sundance Seaway to the Pike Highland. Dr. Foster authored "Jurassic West: The Dinosaurs of the Morrison Formation" and will sign books purchased at the event. Rock Out for the Ridge is an annual Dinosaur Ridge fund-raising event, including a buffet dinner, silent auction, and guest speaker; held at the Red Rocks Park Visitor's Center, 6-10 p.m.; tickets are $75. The theme will be "A Jurassic Safari." Come, dressed appropriately! (Please contact any Dinosaur Ridge member for details and to reserve a ticket.)

Fri.-Sat.-Sun., Nov. 6-8, a Mineral, Fossil, Gem, and Jewelry Show will be held at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds, 15200 W. 6th Avenue Service Road, Golden CO (west of Indiana Street); Fri. & Sat. 10 am–6pm, Sun. 11am – 4pm. "Free Admission–Ample Parking–Public Welcome.
Mineral crystals, fossils, jewelry, gemstones & cutting rough; sixteen dealers. Produced by the Denver Area Mineral Dealers."

For educators, Nov. 19-20 is the 2009 Colorado Science Conference (formerly Colorado Science Teachers Convention), held at the Denver Merchandise Mart; Thursday evening + 8-4 Friday. See http://coloradocast.org/professionaldevelopment.php?page=overview
for more information and online registration. Great workshops, special lectures, exhibits, and person-to-person networking; the 2009 theme is "Science: Explore It!". The speaker at the Science Conference Banquet (Thursday evening, Nov. 19) will be Jim Crocker, of Lockheed Martin, "The History of the Telescope".

Sat., Nov. 21, Littleton Gem and Mineral Club, Silent Auction; at Columbine Hills Church, 9700 Old Coal Mine Avenue, Littleton, CO; all welcome; setup at 11:30 am, auction at 12 noon until ~3 p.m.; for more information contact Jim Hooten at 303-770-7177 or jahooten@msnl.com.

Sat.-Sun., Dec. 5-6, 46th Annual Pikes Peak Gem & Mineral Show. Phil Long Expo Center, 1515 Auto Mall Loop, Colorado Springs, CO. Sat 10 am–6 pm, Sun 10 am–4 pm. Hosted by the Colorado Springs Mineralogical Society. For more information, contact www.csms.us

Fri.-Sat.-Sun., Dec. 11-13, Flatirons Gem and Mineral Show, Boulder County Fairgrounds, 9595 Nelson Rd. (Nelson & Hover), Longmont, CO; see http://bcn.boulder.co.us/community/fmc/ for details.

Denver Museum of Nature and Science lecture programs: reservations required, please see the DMNS website for details:

Sun., Nov. 15, Meet Charles Darwin! Brian “Fox” Ellis, re-enactor.
Thurs., Dec. 3, The Tangled Bank: An Introduction to Evolution, by Carl Zimmer, author and science writer
Thurs., Dec. 10, Sandstorms to Snow Leopards: The Cretaceous Tourist in Mongolia, by Kirk Johnson, Chief Curator

 

******************************************
Peter J. Modreski
U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado
USGS, Mail Stop 150
Box 25046, Federal Center
Denver, CO 80225-0046
tel. 303-202-4766, fax 303-202-4767
email pmodreski@usgs.gov
SCIENCE FOR A CHANGING WORLD
http://www.usgs.gov
http://ask.usgs.gov